Southdale Library marks closure with preview of future

11 Dec 2024

Hennepin County hosted a community meeting at Southdale Library Saturday, December 7, 2024, as part of a series of events to engage the public and share updates on the Southdale Library new build project.

Centering the community through design

The design of the new Southdale Library, developed by MSR Design, was informed by years of community engagement efforts including surveys and public meetings, and was created with community in mind. The design addressed site access and redevelopment; connection to people, amenities, and nature; sustainability; and partnerships.

Site access

Careful consideration was paid to the ways patrons will access the new Southdale Library. Safe and easy access points for buses, cyclists, pedestrians, and cars are reflected in the design. In addition to accessing the building itself, much thought was put into accessing library services. The new design allows better utilization of library space and street level service for easier access.

Bus, pedestrian, and bicycle access are integrated and safely organized in the site plan for the new Southdale Library. Bird’s eye view of the North entry plaza showing points of access. Connection

The new library will be a hub for creativity and lifelong learning. It will provide more opportunity for connection with additional study and meeting room space, as well as outdoor terrace and learning space, included in the new design.

Multi-purpose room with flexibility and adaptability to provide for different types of programming.

Outdoor programming opportunity available on the children’s plaza. This rendering shows how the landscape might look 10 years after planting. As time passes, plants will grow and the plaza will fill in.

Outdoor terrace on level 2 with places for patrons to connect outside and take in views of the landscape.The site will also connect neighbors to the Edina Promenade, Adams Hill Park, and 9 Mile Creek through trail connections. The connection of the park and trail system will bring these activities to the front door of the library.

Southdale Library will be connected to the nearby park and trail system.
A trail sweeps around to the South main entrance, just below the community terrace, providing access to the library via the regional trail system.

Sustainability

The Southdale Library design includes a full redevelopment of the site, creating healthy environments for learning and engaging in community activities inside and outside of the building.

Sustainability work includes:

  • Rainfall managed on site
  • Rooftop solar panels collect energy from the sun
  • Geothermal heat pumps heat the building
  • High performance façade that will control glare and optimize interior daylight and comfort levels
  • Native landscape provides a habitat for pollinators, improves air quality, and provides health benefits to patrons through time spent in nature
The design of the new Southdale Library integrates sustainability through native landscape, rainfall management on site, daylit spaces, healthy material palette, low-embodied carbon materials, solar array, and geothermal heat pumps.
At the North entry, a wide plaza provides access for pedestrians approaching the library from York and 70th and for patrons using the surface parking lot. Drive-up and walk-up book drops are conveniently located near the entry. Glass doors provide views directly through the library and into the southern landscape, where a second primary entry and event plaza are located. Windows into the second level art classrooms provide views and natural daylight, while a high performing façade controls glare.
South entry plaza with connections to trail and outdoor space.
The site is designed as a “library of local landscape,” incorporating oak barrens, tallgrass and wet prairie, and freshwater marsh into the design. These plantings will be reparative and responsive to climate change.

Partnerships

Hennepin County is partnering with Edina Art Center and Three Rivers Park District to bring art and trail connections to the site. Edina Art Center will have dedicated space in the Southdale Library building for an art gallery, gift shop, and classrooms on level 2.

A look inside at the atrium with technology and library collection, a multipurpose room towards the middle, main stair with large meeting room above, and art center space to the top left.
Level 2 of the library includes a casual seating area along the community terrace, art gallery space straight ahead, and clerestory windows providing maximum daylight to the right.

What’s next?

Southdale Library will close to the public Monday, January 6, 2025. Work immediately after the closure will include salvaging and removing materials before demolition begins. Demolition, groundbreaking, and construction will happen in the months following the closure. The project is expected to take around three years to complete.

Plans for a temporary holds pickup location are in the works. Details will be shared as they are finalized.

During the closure, patrons may visit nearby libraries, including:

Project updates

Interested in receiving future updates on the project? Subscribe to the Southdale Library email list(External link) or visit the Southdale Library building project page.